The car uses the same drivetrain as its fixed-roof counterpart, which we tested earlier this year: A 6.5-liter V-12 still makes 700 horsepower and directs it to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automated manual transmission.

Lamborghini says the car will do 0-62 mph in three seconds flat and has a top speed of just over 217 miles an hour. Efficiency finds its way into the mix via a start/stop function and cylinder deactivation.

The company didn't announce the vehicle's weight, but don't expect the Roadster to gain much. With a two-piece, carbon-fiber, removable hardtop, the car lacks the mechanical systems that can add weight to other convertibles.

Each section of the top weighs a little more than 13 pounds and stores in the car's (small) front trunk when not in use. The Roadster also has a power-retractable rear window and the engine hood has been revised for proper engine cooling and water drainage.

This Aventador also features a new style of wheel for Lamborghini. The aluminum rims are 20 inches in the front and 21 in the rear, and Lamborghini says they shave about 22 pounds off the weight of standard units.

Update: Nov. 19, 2012: Lamborghini has officially annouced U.S. pricing of $445,300, which includes a $3,700 gas guzzler tax. The car is on sale now globally for something near $380,000, based on current exchange rates before taxes (though U.S. pricing will be higher than that), and deliveries start next summer.

If you're heading to the L.A. Auto Show from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9th, hoping for a peek of this exotic, don't hold your breath. Lamborghini says it has no plans to put the car on display. You'll have to watch the Beverly Hills valet stands next spring for that.

Ford’s revolutionary aluminum-body F-150 pickup truck does well in most crash tests but is significantly more expensive to repair, according to an analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.